Saturday, January 4, 2014

Setting up the software for using Arduino as the In System Programmer (ISP) to download program onto ATtiny85

Setting up the software for using Arduino as the In System Programmer (ISP) to download program onto ATtiny85

Step0: Install ATTiny CoresNOTE: This Tutorial assumes Arduino v1.0.x and above has been installed on the computer.Go to this URL https://github.com/damellis/ATtiny/archive/master.zip and download this file: master.zip Extract this file and copy the entire folder to the “hardware” folder of yourArduino installation directory. Note: The following screen is mine and might differ from yours.Restart the Arduino IDE programming environment. Verify the new cores (ATtinyXX series) loaded in Arduino IDE.Note that there are also other core files for a variety of ATtiny chips loaded e.g ATting85. This page is a good starting point for interfacing with a wide range of the ATtiny or ATtiny85 using the Arduino.Click on Tools , Board to verify the variety of ATtiny chips.Programming the ATtinyXX chip with Arduino as the ISP

Note: This is a 1 + N step. Step 1 requires setting up the Arduino as the ISP for the first time progamming of an ATtiny. Step N has to be repeated every time to program an ATtiny. The ATtiny chip has to be placed on the ATtinyXX ISP shield, and then connected to the Arduino. The program will then be downloaded to ATtiny instead of Arduino.

Step1: Setting up Arduino as the ISP

Connect usb cable to Arduino

Go to Tools->Board and make sure Arduino Uno is selected.

Make sure that the correct serial port is selected.

Go to Tools->Programmer -> Arduino as ISP

Go to Examples -> ArduinoISP

Click to upload the ISP program to the Arduino

Now your arduino is ready to be used to program it's poor cousin, the ATtiny85.

Step N part1: ATtinyXX chip is inserted into ATtinyXX ISP shield; shield is then connected to the Arduino.

Confirm USB cable is unplugged from Arduino when inserting the ISP shield

Align ATtiny85 DIP8 package chip to ATtiny85 ISP shield

Insert ATtiny85 chip firmly onto the ISP shield

Align ISP shield to Arduino

Insert ISP shield firmly onto Arduino

Question: What is the model of the ATtiny chip in the picture above?

Note: ATtiny45/85-PU is 20MHz (with external clock). refer to the datasheet at References.